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Michael Uslan, the creative mastermind behind the “Batman” film series, will be the keynote speaker at MVCC’s Spring 2013 Commencement ceremony, to be held Friday, May 24 at 4 p.m. in the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Uslan, who is known as an inspiring and entertaining public speaker, will discuss his inspirational story of persistence, creativity, and self-belief.

Uslan acquired the film rights to Batman in 1979 and it took him a decade to bring the character to theaters. Uslan is the executive producer of the films that started with “Batman” in 1989 and have continued through “The Dark Knight Rises” in 2012. Under his leadership, the title character was transformed from a Hollywood punch line to the brooding, serious centerpiece of one of the highest-grossing, most-popular movie franchises of all time.

Before “Batman,” Uslan achieved national recognition as a faculty member at Indiana University, where he created and taught the first accredited college course on comic books. In addition to his work with the Caped Crusader, Uslan has produced films including “The Spirit,” “Constantine,” and “National Treasure.” He is author of the memoir “The Boy Who Loved Batman” as well as multiple children’s books and graphic novels. He holds numerous honorary degrees and a J.D., master’s degree, and bachelor’s degree from Indiana.

The choice of Uslan as Commencement speaker was made jointly by MVCC’s Office of Events, Student Congress, and Program Board. More information about Uslan and about MVCC’s Commencement ceremony can be found online at www.mvcc.edu/graduate.